Orthopedic apparatus



March 27, 1951 w. D. FOWLER ORTHOPEDIC APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 8, 1948 M m V BY @0 ATTORNEYS.

March 27, 1951 w. D. FOWLER ORTHOPEDIC APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledNov. 8, 1948 I N VENTOR [aka/e1 ATTORNEYS.

March 27, 1951 w. D. FOWLER 5 3 ORTHOPEDIC APPARATUS Filed Nov. 8, 19483 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 INVENTOR.

WARREN D. FOWLER ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE $546,436 ORTHOPEDIC APPARATUS Warren D. Fdwler, Red Bank, N. J.Application November 8,1948, Seiial N6. 58,898

(01. Isis-79) 6 Glalifns: 1

This invention relates to oftho'fiedi'c's and more particularl to ainethod and afipa'r'ati'is foi corresting malformations in thegj'efiital ib'oiti'dh 6i naits of the niale anatomy. v V

Under normal and natural development Of me male body the testes areeriginally housed within the abdominal cavity and normally leave thisarea by passing through the iiite'in'al abdefiiinal ring, thence throughthe inguinal canal, and thereafter pass threiigh the external abdominalring into the scrotum where they perform a very important function inthe development of all mas'culiiie characteristics and tendeiicies,including the naturally inteiided capability of 'reproduction on thepart of the male.

Unless the testicles or testes thus properly cite send intd the scrotumthe desirable inale char aeteristis' of the individiial fail to developnormally and there results" an iiii'natural iunctional and physicalcondition tending toward feminin ity. sexual sterility, obesity andderanged voice seale.

Under present an'piov'ed 'riiedio'al practice the correction oi si ichundeveloped testes an genitals is divided into two different types oitreatiiirit. one consists; Qf glandiflar' extract injec' tions', and theother of a series of siiigical opera; time, wherein the se'r'ot itiss'iie is sewed with inisions to the inside of the thigh tissue withthe hope that a pun Will be genr'ated froin the scrotum the testes anddescent will then be accomplished. H

Itis pessible with proper use of body ontact apparatus to remove andcorrect such described ab'nc'irmal developme t of the testesandsorotiiin of the meme child. This s accomplished by givifi a seriesof treatments wherein gentle su'f tion of vacuum pull is exerted iiponthe external genital parts of the fnale child. This treatmiit isrepeated at regular intervals until the desired results are obtained.Thereafter treatments are made at nrolonged intervals until finallystobped when effei'jts-are permanent.

The vacuum suction exerted on the body contact instrument is obtainedusing a suitable electrically eni g' ized iiiin'ifi; The siiet'io'iiflower is controlled by valve so that at no tifiie is more used than isnecessary td draw the testes downward through the abdominal rings intothe serotum where they will thereafter be permanently lodged.

It is the intended purpose of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus for car-'- rying the above described noveland desirabletreatment of malformed male genitals" without Surgery of glandulartreatment, and Without iir'idu'e discomfort, thereby serving totransform theaffeeted individual'into a fio'r'rhal male' p'erson withall the usual natural sewers and characteristics V It is further animportant object of the iiiveiition to provide means for shielding suchgenital nai'ts or organs of the patient which do not require the 'apllication of the treatment. Said parts are selectively shielded from e22-ter'hally induced suction power by means of es= peeiany designates?Contact instruments. Foi' example a normally developed iien'is may bephysically eparates aria shielded train the; treatinent given to thesi'otimi and the testes, or vice versa.

A further object of the invention is to fire tide iii the aiibal'atiis,means for fielf'o'i'miii the method in suc manner that theiinifiediatei-e= stilts may he observed by the physioiaii or' persen administeringthe treatment to the patient.

A still further o'bieot er the invention is it pm vide as a bartof theipibaratiis for the dese'r'i bed piirpose, a bodycont'acting'i trufhen'tor suction cup of novels-11d 'peciiliar' eoiifi'giiration and wh ch issfieoifioajlly designed td-concentrate the afifilied v'aciiiim ofsection bull upon the desired genital region, for exairible solelyujp-on' the scrotum a m the alonorir' allv nhsitidi'ied testes. When thepenis as Well as the testes are not properly developed, the device maybereadily tiansfoiffied t6 apply' the vacuum induced iiu'll upon theentiie penis, scrotum aiid testes, as w'ell as other necessary adjacenttissiies directly involved in the successful application aria practiceof the inventioii. I I

Niiineroiis other objects" and advantages of the invention Willbipijaifit as it is better under"- stood from the renewing descriptiofi,Whih, taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, discloses apreferred ei'nhddiinent thereof.

In said drawings: a v

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a iifefer'red forth of body contatinstrument or suction cup" (36nsti'tutiiig a hart of the i iiafatiis forcarrying out the instant improved fiietliod for its speeifieai ydescribed snipe-Se.

Fig. Z isa similar view but shes/n fia'ftiallv' iii substantial top?plan and i artiailly the" rear looking towardsthe roiwarqp'ortidn or wen6f theinstrumentillustrated in Fig. 1. I,

Pies. 3 and 4care views similar to F g. 2, but rs'bedtiv'l-y' iitiy'modified strtio'tural embodiments-6i the ifilffiiiiin;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of oneof the cup members substantially asillustrated in the preceding flgures but embodying a further slightstructural modification, and looking toward the forward closed wall ofthe instrument.

Fig. 6 is a similar View looking toward the rear or open portion of thesuction cup device.

Fig. 7 is a slightly enlarged view in vertical section through the cupdevice illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and showing the manner of itsapplication to the abdominal or genital portion of the human anatomy.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a self contained compact and portableapparatus for carrying out the invention.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view in side elevation of a portion of theapparatus shown in Fig. 8,

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 8 is illustrative of a self-containedportable unit which may be employed to advantage in carrying out orpracticing the invention. C indicates a box-like casing having a hingedcover D, suitable releasable latch members E and, if desired, a carryinghandle F. An electrical motor I is suitably secured to the floor of thecasing, the armature shaft thereof being connected by a drive belt 2 tothe driven pulley of a rotary suction pump 3, also suitably secured tothe inner supporting surface or floor of the casing. The electricalconduit 4 of the motor extends to an outlet connection 8 in a wall ofthe casing and a connection 1 extends from the outlet to a switchelement 5 mounted on a partition wall 6 within the housing or casing. Areturn wire or conduit Ma leads from the switch to the motor I. Saidcasing outlet is designed to removably receive a plug member 9 of aflexible wire or conduit 10 having at its opposite and a second plugmember if for insertion into a convenient source of electrical energy,such for example as a wall socket (not shown).

A vacuum or suction outlet nipple [2 in a wall of the portable casing isaxially connected by a pipe !3 and T-connection M to the suction side ofthe pump 3, the atmospheric vent outlet on the pressure side of the pumpbeing indicated at Ma. A branch pipe I5 extends from said T- connectionto a combined electrical rheostat switch and suction control valvegenerally indicated at l6 on the partition wall 6 within the casing. Seealso Fig. 9. This rheostat switch is interposed in the electricalconnection wire 4a. The described arrangement and connections are suchthat when the rheostat knob I6a is rotated in one direction to increaseohmic resistance and thus reduce the pump driving speed of the motor I,the branch pipe I5 is progressively and increasingly vented through thethus opened connected valve l6b to theatmosphere, as indicated by thevent pipe l5a in Fig. 9, thereby correspondingly progressively reducingthe degree of suction exerted through the pipe I3 and nipple l2. Whenthe combined valve and rheostat control knob |6a is rotated in theopposite direction, the speed of the motor and pump is graduallyincreased by cutting out resistance in the electric circuit, and thevalve at the same time is progressively closed to atmosphere throughvent pipe i5a, thereby shutting off pump induced suction through branchpipe I5 with a corresponding increase or amplification of the suctioneifect produced at the nipple l2 through pipe connection l3. In thismanner the effective degree or amount of suction exerted by the pumpinwardly through the casing mounted nipple connection 12 may be readilycontrolled at will by the operator in ac drawings, and with particularreference to Figs,

1 and 2, there is illustrated a body contact instrument or vacuum cupgenerally indicated at 20. Said cup member is preferably constructed ofglass or light die cast metal or transparent plastic materials, or ifdesired may be suitably hand molded from such or similar materials whichare impervious to air and moisture. The cup member is closed at itslower end and open at its upper portion, and the lower otherwiseimperforate forward wall 21 thereof is apertured for the receptiontherein of a knurled or threaded nipple 22 (see also Fig. 7) designed toremovably receive one end of a flexible hose or tube 23 of appropriatelength. The opposite end of the tube is designed to be removably securedin an air tight connection to the nipple I? of the portable casing unitC as indicated in Fig. 8.

The said cup-shaped body contact instrument or vacuum chamber 28 ispreferably formed of glass or relatively light impervious plasticmaterial of a more or less transparent character to the end that theinterior of the cup constitutes, when applied to the body, a vacuum orair exhaust chamber 24. The instrument is appropriately designed forconvenient air-tight contact with the genital portion of the maleanatomy so as to receive within the air exhaust or vacuum chamber 24,the genital parts of the body including the scrotum S and penis P (Fig.7). The body contact instrument 20, which constitutes an important partof the invention, is further particularly designed to contact the bodyin such manner that the application of reasonably light pressure willserve to press against thev fatty tissues immediately adjacent the baseand side of the penis so as to cause the abnormally concealed testes toextrude and extend downward into and towards the scrotum where theyimmediately become subject to the vacuum pull exerted in the chamber 24when the apparatus is placed in operation. To this end the upper openportion of the instrument is flared outwardly around its periphery andparticularly at its forward end, as indicated at 25. Oppositely disposedupwardly curved elevations 26 are preferably formed integrally with thematerial of the instrument and are spaced from each other by a forwardlyextending recess 21 designed to accommodate the penis of the patient.Said elevations 26 are thus disposed on opposite sides of the base ofthe penis and serve to exert the aforesaid pressure against the fattytissues at such locality for causing the testes to extrude from theirabnormally concealed position for the desirable purpose described.Intermediate the said elevated outwardly curved or bulged parts 26 andthe outer flared portion 25 there is provided a partiallycircumferential or 'annrdar depression 28 provided with a plurality ofspaced apertures 29 which afford communication between the interior andexterior of the cup. The rear portion of the instrument is of reducedsize and is formed with a rearwardly projecting portion 23a whichis'open at its upper endand particularly designed for airtight contactwith the patients body between the upper extremities of the thighs.

When the instrument is applied as described to the genital parts of thebody and the vacuum is drawn in the chamber 2 3, the presence of theapertures 29 within the depressed channel 28 through which air'isexhausted ,from adjacent the body into the chamber, serves to securelyanchor and hermetically seal the device to the body as a result ofexternal atmospheric pressure, and this secure airtight relation of thecup to the body against displacement continues until the suction pull onchamber 24 is discontinued and the instrument vented to atmosphere.

The cup-like contact member or instrument 20 may be constructed ofdifferent sizes as will be obvious so as to accommodate the instrumentto patients of varying physical size and development, and also ofvarying configuration in accordance with desirable operating conditions.For example in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, the instrument 2!}is cast or otherwise molded to provide a partially circumferentialhorizontally disposed groove or recess 30 intermediate the exhaust orvacuum chamber 24. Said recess is designed for the removable receptiontherein of a shelf or partition member 3! so as to divide the innercompartment or exhaust chamber 24 into two separate compartments,'onlyone of which is exposed to the suction or air exhaust induced throughone of the disclosed connecting nipples 22, 22a. cup member is designedfor the purpose of shielding from the vacuum pull the normally developedpenis of the patient when suction is applied to the scrotum for thepurpose of causing one of both of the testes to properly descendthereinto. When so employed the penis which depends through the recess21 of the cup, is contained within the upper segregated chamber of theinstrument defined by the removable partition member SI and the scrotumoccupies the lower chamber 2% beneath the partition member, as indicatedin Fig. 7.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the shelf or a plurality ofsuch partition members 3| may be provided in the device in variouslocations, for the purpose of confining the air exhaust or vacuumtreatment to such genital parts as are desired to be thus subjected,while shielding from the exhaust action such other parts as are notdesired to be treated. Also it is not essential that the suctionapertures 29 be present in all instances, and the cup may be constructedwithout such perforations, for example as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6,wherein the remaining desirable structural features of the instrumenthowever are present.

When the contact instrument is closely applied to the body with anairtight fit along its upper open periphery, the suction pull exerted inthe chamber 24 is sufiicient to obtain a secure attachment of the cup tothe body as a result of external atmospheric pressure after the innerchamber has been exhausted of air.

It is believed the manner of operation of the invention will be apparentfrom the foregoing, but will be briefly summarized.

After the suction cup 20 of desired configuration and with or withoutthe partition member 3|, has been applied to the exposed genital portionof the patients body, the electric motor is energized through the switch5 and the combined rheostat and Valve control knob lBa is adjusted toexert through the pump 3, a greater or less suction through the hoseconnection 23 to exhaust chamber 24, as determined by the condition ofthe patient and as to the degree of treatment desirable. The results ofthe treatment may be viewed through the transparent cup and the suctionapplied for as long a period as is p of such recess.

6 advisable. Obviously the treatment may be coritinued from time to timeuntil the necessary results and genital development of the patient havebeen obtained.

In the event it is desired to drive the suction pump 3 at asubstantially constant rate of speed by means of the motor I, thedescribed rheostat control for the motor indicated at R in Fig. 9, wouldbe omitted, and the degree of suction is controlled solely by means ofthe knob lfia and valve 161). In such event the electrical connection M(Fig. 8) would be directly from switch 5 to the motor, as will beclearly apparent. Conversely in the event it is desired to control thedegree of suction solely by means of the motor speed, the rheostatcontrol by knob I6a would be present, and the valve Hi2) and pipeconnection It would be omitted from the assembly.

While Fig. 4 shows a partition member 3| removably mounted in a fixedgroove or recess 30, the invention also contemplates the elimination Insuch event the partition member 3| would be of a relatively flexible orelastic Such a nature so as to be capable of frictional fitting withinthe cup member 24 and relative to the suction outlet 22. Thisarrangement would serve to vary at will the relative sizes of theseparate compartments 24a and 24b, with little or no suction exerted inthe chamber which is not in communication with the outlet 22. Forexample in the event it is desired to treat only the penis of thepatient, the partition member 3| would be frictionally fitted and firmlytiltable within the cup 28 so as to enlarge the capacity of chamber 24aand also place it in communication with the outlet 22. Chamber 24bcontaining the scrotum would thus be made smaller and substantially shutoff from the suction outlet. Separate and individual suction outlets 22for each chamber 24a and 24b may of course be present on opposite sidesof the partition member 3|, instead of the single outlet which has beenillustrated.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of parts of the apparatus disclosed herein .and in the stepsof the method and their order of accomplishment as described herein,without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention orsacrificing all of its material advantages, the apparatus and. methodhereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for treating genital parts of the male anatomy comprising acup-like member designed for hermetically sealed application to the bodyto conceal the genital parts, said cup member including a vacuum chamberterminating at its open end in an outwardly flared periphery, means forapplying suction to said chamber to exhaust air therefrom to induce theconfined genital part to descend into the chamber, means for controllingthe degree of suction exerted upon said chamber, and spaced apertures onsaid outwardly flared cup periphery to facilitate adherence of the cupto the body without external support when the suction is applied.

2. A body contact instrument for application to the genital portion ofthe male anatomy, comprising a cup member for hermetic application tothe body to confine a genital organ, said cup member including an innervacuum chamber, spaced means extending inwardly from the pe riphery ofsaid cup member for engaging and exerting pressure upon the fattytissues adjacent the base of the penis to cause the testes to descendinto said chamber, and means for applyin a source of vacuum to saidchamber to facilitate such descension.

3. A body contact instrument for application to the genital portion ofthe male anatomy, comprising a cup member for hermetic application tothe body to confine a genital organ, means for separating the interiorof the cup member into a plurality of inner closed chambers, and meansfor applying a source of vacuum to one of said inner chambers to exhaustair therefrom and cause the adjacent confined genital organ to descendthereinto.

4. A body contact instrument for application to the genital portion ofthe male anatomy, comprising a cup member for hermetic application tothe body to confine a genital organ, means for separatin the interior ofthe cup member into a plurality of closed chambers for respectivelyconfining the penis and scrotum of the patient, means on the interior ofsaid cup member for engaging and exerting pressure upon the fattytissues adjacent the base of the penis confined in its said chamber tocause the testesto descend into the other of said chambers, and meansfor applying a source of vacuum to said last mentioned chamber tofacilitate such descension, while preventing application of the vacuumto the chamber in which the penis is contained.

5. A body contact instrument for application to the genital portion ofthe male body, comprising a cup member having a chamber for receivingand confining a genital organ of the body, a projecting peripheral ledgeadjacent the open end of said cup member, a plurality of apertures insaid ledge communicating with said chamber, and means for connectingsaid cup member to a suction induced vacuum pull exerted on the saidchamber of the cup member including through said apertures to cause thecup member to firmly adhere to the genital portion of the body adjacentsaid ledge. I

6. Means for treating genital parts of the male anatomy comprising acup-like member designed for hermetically sealed application to the bodyto conceal a genital part, said cup member including a vacuum chamberterminating at its open end in a flared periphery, and means forapplying suction to said chamber to exhaust air therefrom to induce theconfined genital part to descend into the chamber, said flared cupperiphery being cut away at spaced intervals to facilitate adherence ofthe applied cup to the body without external support when said suctionis applied.

WARREN D. FOWLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,399,095 Webb Dec. 6, 19211,399,676 Waggoner Dec. 6, 1921 1,498,430 Doerfier June 17, 1924

